The assessment reform movement has focused on classroom assessment and grading practices as a potential means to improving teaching and learning. Many researchers agree that the best way to enhance learning for a diverse range of students is through appropriate, reliable, and valid classroom assessment and grading practices. This is of particular importance in Saskatchewan because the inclusive philosophy has been mandated for all schools. Classroom teachers are responsible for the instruction, assessment, and grading of students with mild disabilities, learning, emotional, and behavioral challenges, and other needs that require specific attention. This study examined secondary classroom teachers assessment and grading practices in one urban school division. A survey instrument adapted from the work of Duncan and Noonan (2007) and McMillan (2001) asked current secondary teachers, within inclusive classrooms, to indicate their current assessment and grading practices. Evidence from the survey demonstrated that teachers in this division have diverse assessment and grading practices and that they have begun to explore the potential for assessment to assist all students in their learning. This study has provided data to move forward with some professional development opportunities for teachers and further research in assessment and grading with particular focus on students with special needs in inclusive classrooms.

The assessment reform movement has focused on classroom assessment and grading practices as a potential means to improving teaching and learning. Many researchers agree that the best way to enhance learning for a diverse range of students is through appropriate, reliable, and valid classroom assessment and grading practices. This is of particular importance in Saskatchewan because the inclusive philosophy has been mandated for all schools. Classroom teachers are responsible for the instruction, assessment, and grading of students with mild disabilities, learning, emotional, and behavioral challenges, and other needs that require specific attention. This study examined secondary classroom teachers assessment and grading practices in one urban school division. A survey instrument adapted from the work of Duncan and Noonan (2007) and McMillan (2001) asked current secondary teachers, within inclusive classrooms, to indicate their current assessment and grading practices. Evidence from the survey demonstrated that teachers in this division have diverse assessment and grading practices and that they have begun to explore the potential for assessment to assist all students in their learning. This study has provided data to move forward with some professional development opportunities for teachers and further research in assessment and grading with particular focus on students with special needs in inclusive classrooms.

Weed plants are currently one of the main factors to restrain crop yield worldwide. The mycoherbicides are considered an important alternative to aim weed plants management, because of its efficiency of control and low environmental impact. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the herbicidal effect of secondary metabolites of the fungus Diaporthe sp. isolated from Solanum americanum plant to the control of different species of weeds and crops. In this sense, bioassays were carried with pre-emergence application (primary assessment) and post-emergency aplication (secondary assessment) plants in laboratory and greenhouse. Secondary metabolites were obtained through a process of submerged fermentation in a benchtop bioreactor. Assessment was carried out in the laboratory by means of germination tests on seeds for the species Glycine max, Cucumis sativus, Sorghum halepense, Oryza sativa, Triticum aestivum and Lolium multiflorum. To this, polyethylene boxes were used, which contained germitest role as substrate, previously soaked in 10 mL of secondary metabolites. In each box were equidistantly allocated 25 seeds, and right after capped and sealed with parafilm and taken to a germination chamber for a period of seven days. As for the secondary assessment two experiments were carried in a greenhouse. Experiment 1 was composed by applying different doses of secondary metabolites (0, 1 / 4D 1 / 2D, D, 2D, 4D and 8D) on the aerial part of the plants species Glycine max, Conyza sp., Oryza sativa, Echinochloa sp., Triticum aestivum and Lolium multiflorum. To the experiment 2 these same plant species were used. However, the treatments consisted of mix between commercial herbicides and secondary metabolites to assess a possible synergism caused by the mixture of the compounds. In addition, an adjuvant was added together with the secondary metabolites to verify any improvement on the herbicide effect. For both experiments were evaluated the dry mass weight of the aerial part, phytotoxicity and control efficiency. The results obtained in the primary evaluation demonstrated that the secondary metabolites applied at pre emergency inhibited germination for the species used in the study at a rate of 100%. On the secondary assessment for the experiment 1, the highest dose resulted in a weight reduction of plants aerial dry mass for the species Glycine max and Conyza sp. At Experiment 2 no synergism was found for the mixture of secondary metabolites and commercial herbicides to any of the plant species. The addition of an adjuvant to secondary metabolites resulted in better action against the species Glycine max, Echinochloa sp. and Lolium multiflorum. / As plantas daninhas são atualmente um dos principais fatores que limitam a produtividade das culturas agrícolas no mundo. Os bioherbicidas são considerados como uma importante alternativa para auxiliar no manejo de plantas daninhas, em função de propiciarem eficiente controle e do baixo impacto ambiental. Desta maneira o presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito herbicida dos metabólitos secundários do fungo Diaporthe sp. isolado da planta Solanum americanum no controle de distintas espécies de plantas daninhas e de culturas agrícolas. Para isto foram realizados bioensaios em pré-emergência (avaliação primária) e pós-emergência (avaliação secundária) de plantas em laboratório e em casa de vegetação. Os metabólitos secundários foram obtidos, por meio de um processo de fermentação submersa do microrganismo em um biorreator de bancada. A avaliação primária foi realizada em laboratório, por meio de testes germinativos de sementes para as espécies glycine max, Cucumis sativus, Sorghum halepense, Oryza sativa, Triticum aestivum e Lolium multiflorum. Para isto foram utilizadas caixas de polietileno do tipo gerbox, as quais continham papel germitest como substrato, previamente embebidos em 10 mL dos metabólitos secundários. Em cada caixa foram alocadas 25 sementes de forma equidistante, sendo as mesmas, logo em seguida tampadas e seladas com Parafilm e então levadas para uma câmara de germinação pelo período de sete dias. Já para na avaliação secundária foram realizados dois experimentos em casa de vegetação. O experimento 1 foi composto pela aplicação de diferentes doses dos metabólitos secundários (0, 1/4D, 1/2D, D, 2D, 4D e 8D) via parte aérea de plantas para as espécies glycine max, Conyza sp., Oryza sativa, Echinochloa sp., Triticum aestivum e Lolium multiflorum. Para o experimento 2 foram utilizadas estas mesmas espécies de plantas. Todavia, os tratamentos foram compostos pela mistura entre herbicidas comercias e metabólitos secundários para avaliar um possível sinergismo ocasionado pela mistura entre os compostos. Além disto, realizou-se a adição de um adjuvante junto aos metabólitos secundários para verificar uma melhora na ação herbicida dos mesmos. Para os dois experimentos foram realizadas avaliações para, o peso da massa seca da parte aérea das plantas, bem como também, fitotoxicidade e controle de plantas. Os resultados obtidos para avaliação primária demonstraram que os metabólitos secundários aplicados de forma pré-emergente inibiram a germinação para as espécies utilizadas no estudo na ordem de 100%. Na avaliação secundária para o experimento 1, as maiores doses resultaram em uma redução do peso da massa seca da parte aérea das plantas para as espécies Glycine max e Conyza sp. Já para o experimento 2 não verificou-se sinergismo para a mistura dos herbicidas comercias e metabólitos secundários para nenhuma das espécies de plantas. A adição de um adjuvante aos metabólitos secundários resultou em melhor ação dos mesmos para as espécies de Glycine max, Echinochloa sp. e Lolium multiflorum.